[CQ-Contest] ARRL to allow self-spotting in contests = NO DRAMA

[Steve Dyer W1SRD]

Despite all the wailing and hair pulling on the list (and plenty more to 
come), I see this as largely equivalent to SSB RBN without the RBN 
aggregation as the feed.
It was predicted RBN would be the end of all things good in contesting 
and it just didn't work out that way.
The biggest difference is RBN spots can be filtered out of the spot 
stream by the user at the node level since RBN spots are tagged.
Time to get creative.
73,
Steve
W1SRD

> Wow that is quite a rule change! I have always enjoyed the randomness of not
> knowing what rare station will call next or where and when I will be
> spotted. W2RE did not display his 20m operating frequency while live
> streaming so this is very different. I sure that computer literate people
> could have programs that regularly self spot. This could easily get out of
> hand. Too bad there is no SSB RBN!
>
> John KK9A
>
>
>
> Randy Thompson k5zd wrote:
>
> >From the ARRL Contest Update today:
>
> "New Rules in effect for all ARRL HF Contests in June
> Starting with the ARRL International Digital Contest, in all categories that
> allow assistance (Unlimited), the use of online and other non-amateur radio
> platforms including but not limited to social media, live video streaming,
> and internet chat rooms will be allowed. In all Unlimited and Multioperator
> categories, the prohibition of self-spotting, and asking another station to
> spot you, will also be removed."
>
> Wow.  It was one thing for the VHF contests to allow use of chat rooms and
> telephone calls, now this is extended to all HF contests. It should be
> interesting to see what unintended consequences result from allowing
> multi-ops and assisted competitors to spot themselves. You could spot
> yourself with every CQ if you wanted to. Or you can call people on the phone
> and ask them to get on the air. Or send out email reminders to work you
> during the contest.
>
> It is likely to have the most impact on SSB to produce spotting equal to
> what the RBN does for CW and RTTY.
>
> For an organization that has always been so timid and conservative on rule
> changes, the ARRL seems to have sprung this one without much consultation
> with the contest community.  I assume it is in reaction to the W2RE incident
> several years ago in ARRL DX where he used live streaming on Facebook during
> the contest.
>
>
> Randy K5ZD
>
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